The record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia battled past Bandari FC with a narrow 1-0 victory to clinch the ODM@20 Football Tournament at the Mbaraki Sports Club on Friday afternoon.
The win capped off a competitive two-day tournament organised by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as part of its 20th-anniversary celebrations.
Gor Mahia booked their place in the final after edging Shabana FC 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s semi-final. Bandari, on the other hand, saw off AFC Leopards in another dramatic shootout after a goalless stalemate at the same venue.
The two sides headed into Friday’s clash eyeing the Ksh1 million cash prize offered by ODM for the tournament winner. Bandari were keen to capitalise on home advantage, but Gor Mahia’s experience and composure under pressure made the difference.
The first half offered few talking points, with Gor Mahia’s forward Christopher Ochieng coming closest in the 20th minute when his powerful shot struck the post. Both teams went into the break with the scoreboard still blank.
After the restart, Gor Mahia returned with renewed energy and finally broke through in the 69th minute when Ghanaian forward Ebenezer Adu-Kwaw latched onto a loose ball to slot home the winner—his goal proving decisive in the sun-soaked Mbaraki duel.
Despite pushing hard for an equaliser, Bandari failed to find the back of the net, allowing K’Ogalo to celebrate yet another trophy to add to their storied history.
For finishing second, Bandari walked away with Ksh750,000, while in the third-place playoff earlier in the day, Shabana FC defeated AFC Leopards 1-0 to claim Ksh500,000. Leopards received Ksh250,000 for finishing fourth.
ODM@20 Celebrations Postponed
Away from the pitch, ODM confirmed that its planned 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa had been postponed to November. Initially scheduled for October 10–12, the event will now take place from November 14–16, 2025, at the Mama Ngina Waterfront.
In a statement shared on Friday, October 3, the party explained that the rescheduling was intended to expand its outreach and allow more counties to participate in the milestone celebrations.
“The ODM@20 celebrations have already been successfully hosted in Busia, Wajir, Kisii, and Narok counties. However, there remains a strong call from other regions for us to extend this commemoration to their areas as well,” the statement read.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna earlier hinted that the Mombasa event will feature a blend of politics, culture, and sports, with leaders and supporters from across the country expected to attend.
Following their ODM@20 triumph, Gor Mahia will face Chungwa FC—a side featuring ODM-affiliated players—in a special exhibition match to mark the close of the football series.
